It has been almost two weeks since my hearing and still no letter from the Judge! I won at the bench so really it is a matter of formality. I know alot of people have waited much longer and I am not trying to make anyone angry with me so please NOTE that!

I just don't understand how hard is it to type a freaking letter. After years and years of doing this they should have it down to a science!! SSA really puts you through the ringer through the ENTIRE process. It's enough for you to lose your mind waiting! I feel especially sorry for the people, like myself, dealing with depression/anxiety ~ this doesn't help!! You file application and wait, you file reconsideration and wait, you file for hearing and wait, you have your hearing and wait. For goodness sakes, I wish at the very least at the hearing level, especially if you happen to win on the bench or get an OTR, the letter should go out that week and the process should begin. WHY DOES IT TAKE SO LONG!! I am sick and tired of hearing they are back logged! If so, THEN HIRE MORE PEOPLE! I mean, I am literally stalking my mailman - he doesn't deserve that.... lol.. Thanks for lettiing me vent - I feel better now. LOL!

One of the biggest reason it takes so long is the judge usually isnt the one who writes the decision. It goes to a person designated to do that only. After they write a draft it goes to the judge for approval. If the judge doesnt like the wording he will send it back with corrections and so on. When the judge finally likes the wording and all the information is correct the decision writer will make a final copy it is then approved and i believe signed by the judge and finally mailed off with the reasons for the decision if it a favorable one you will also get what benefits you will receive how much and when your review will be. When your first payment is back payment and so on............ That is all that i have read. I am not 100% sure this is accurate so hopefully people that have gone through this will be able to confirm or at least correct what i have written. I will hope you get a quick decision as i will be going through the same thing soon i am sure

Last edited by mod85; 10-25-2011 at 05:24 PM.

The following user gives a hug of support to Slaughter1984:Dobie (10-26-2011)

The Following 4 Users Say Thank You to Slaughter1984 For This Useful Post:BlueSkies14 (10-25-2011), Dobie (10-25-2011), ferd144 (10-26-2011), jgrangran (10-26-2011)

@ Dobie>>>>I know the wait is frustrating and can drive you almost mad. Hang in there Dobie. From the time I was approved OTR, it took just a little over 2 weeks for them to get the approval letter out to me. Hopefully, you will receive the approval letter any day now.

Perhaps, things will play out for you like they did for me. Since you were approved 2 weeks ago at your hearing, Oct.2011 will be your backpay end month. Benefits entitlement start date/month = 5 full months after the disability onset date/month given. 1st monthly check due Nov. 2011. SS pays 1 month in arrears so you will receive check for Nov.2011 in Dec. 2011. Generally, takes about 2 months to receive backpay. I received my backpay approx. 1 week before my 1st monthly check. So, you should receive your 1st monthly check on the 2nd, 3rd, or 4th Wednesday in Dec. depending on what day your birthday falls on.

1-10 = 2nd wednesday
11- 20 = 3rd wednesday
21- 31 = 4th wednesday

In my case since my monthly comes on the 4th Wednesday, I received my backpay 1 week before the monthly. Had my monthly been on the 2nd wednesday, I would have received my 1st monthly check a few days before the backpay. This was how things played out for me Dobie. Hang in there. Things still happen slowly after you are approved but they do happen. Again, congrats on the approval. That is the the main SSDI hurdle to get over IMHO.

The Following User Says Thank You to BlueSkies14 For This Useful Post:Dobie (10-26-2011)

Hey there - for my case - I went before the Judge on May 9th .....
On the 29th I received my first back pay installment...
The letter came the Friday preceding the 29th
However, I was granted SSI, not SSDI, so the 5 month waiting period didn't apply
I get my benefits every 1st of the month
Keep smiling. Bureaucracy can only make you wait so long!
Jon

The Following User Says Thank You to wilso2fc For This Useful Post:Dobie (10-26-2011)

This is what I have heard too Slaughter. The actual letter gets written by decision writers. It seems to me like they should at least have this part streamlined and sped up considerably after all the waiting and other stuff they put you through prior to approval.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slaughter1984

One of the biggest reason it takes so long is the judge usually isnt the one who writes the decision. It goes to a person designated to do that only. After they write a draft it goes to the judge for approval. If the judge doesnt like the wording he will send it back with corrections and so on. When the judge finally likes the wording and all the information is correct the decision writer will make a final copy it is then approved and i believe signed by the judge and finally mailed off with the reasons for the decision if it a favorable one you will also get what benefits you will receive how much and when your review will be. When your first payment is back payment and so on............ That is all that i have read. I am not 100% sure this is accurate so hopefully people that have gone through this will be able to confirm or at least correct what i have written. I will hope you get a quick decision as i will be going through the same thing soon i am sure

The Following User Says Thank You to BlueSkies14 For This Useful Post:Dobie (10-26-2011)

I agree with the others hang in there you are so right this whole process takes a toll on you phycialy and mentaly but it will come Yea to you again on your approval really once everything falls in to place you can rest on that ssa thing for a while until CDR so keep all records when you go to the DR. and Keep taking all meds again I agree with you on this whole horrible process. But you got thru the hardest part Yea for your approval

The following user gives a hug of support to jgrangran:Dobie (10-26-2011)

The Following User Says Thank You to jgrangran For This Useful Post:Dobie (10-26-2011)

Thank you everyone for commenting. Great comments, thanks! I am finding myself to be very impatient as I sit and wait everyday, AGAIN! I guess I got excited when I finally got a hearing date, had the hearing, and I WANTED IT TO BE OVER! I am working on my patience issue and trying not to drive myself mad by thinking it about it 24/7.

Of course, I will stalk my mailman, tee hee hee.. I will let you know how this progresses.

@ Dobie>>>>I know the wait is frustrating and can drive you almost mad. Hang in there Dobie. From the time I was approved OTR, it took just a little over 2 weeks for them to get the approval letter out to me. Hopefully, you will receive the approval letter any day now.

Perhaps, things will play out for you like they did for me. Since you were approved 2 weeks ago at your hearing, Oct.2011 will be your backpay end month. Benefits entitlement start date/month = 5 full months after the disability onset date/month given. 1st monthly check due Nov. 2011. SS pays 1 month in arrears so you will receive check for Nov.2011 in Dec. 2011. Generally, takes about 2 months to receive backpay. I received my backpay approx. 1 week before my 1st monthly check. So, you should receive your 1st monthly check on the 2nd, 3rd, or 4th Wednesday in Dec. depending on what day your birthday falls on.

1-10 = 2nd wednesday
11- 20 = 3rd wednesday
21- 31 = 4th wednesday

In my case since my monthly comes on the 4th Wednesday, I received my backpay 1 week before the monthly. Had my monthly been on the 2nd wednesday, I would have received my 1st monthly check a few days before the backpay. This was how things played out for me Dobie. Hang in there. Things still happen slowly after you are approved but they do happen. Again, congrats on the approval. That is the the main SSDI hurdle to get over IMHO.

Thank you so much BlueSkies - that was ALOT of very useful information for me. You are the God when it comes to SSDI and I appreciate your knowledge! My Bday is in the beginning of the month so I would falll on the 2nd Wednesday of every month. This is very good to know kind of stuff, thanks again and I will keep you informed!

The following user gives a hug of support to Dobie:NElady (01-10-2012)

I totally understand about stalking the mailman. When I was waiting for the letter after my hearing, that was all I could think about. As soon as I heard the mail truck coming down the road, I would get my cane and start towards the mailbox. For me, it was three months before I got the letter.

Waiting is SO hard. Good luck and I hope you get good news soon!

The Following User Says Thank You to gayle428 For This Useful Post:Dobie (10-27-2011)

Your getting really close Dobie, your claim is in the final stages so this is great news for you Remember that your Lawyer will get his money first . Also, keep checking your bank account , Sometimes BackPay shows up in there before you recieve anything in the mail . I know of this happening to several people. Including myself. The wait time is a killer, none of this is done fast or in a timely manner . I feel for you . Soon everything will fall into place

The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to mscat40 For This Useful Post:Dobie (10-27-2011), jgrangran (10-26-2011)

I have been in so much pain lately I can barely breath. I feel so stressed out, bills are piling up, money is tight!! Good news though, my husband just got a promotion which should bring in more money, thank you Jesus!

The new med I am on (Norco 10/325) is not working that well. I saw my pain specialist on Monday and asked him to put me on something long lasting and let me use the Norco for breakthrough but he wants to wait until after I see the new Rheumatologist. I see him on Nov. 10th and I guess I will have to suffer until then. Right now I am taking 8 Norcos, 2 Motrin/ibuprofen (200mg), 1 or 2 Soma per day and I am still in pain!! I feel so frustrated, anxious, stressed - I can't stand it! I should probably start taking my anti-anxiety again daily. Not having a great day